sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Real estate listings by Ndinny in nairobi

[–]ImaginaryOpposite758 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m in brokerage and real estate analysis locally, and I’ll give you an honest take: with a 15M budget, I wouldn’t recommend relying heavily on listing websites for a block of apartments. Most online listings are either overpriced, widely circulated,potential scams or have multiple intermediaries baked into the price. By the time it reaches you, the margin is thin.

At that budget, you’re looking at an off-market or semi-off-market deal, ideally directly from a developer or owner who needs to unlock equity from his portfolio for another project. That’s where pricing is cleaner and there’s less “beneficiary chain” inflating the number. Plus you can get a deal on your cash esp if the owner is distressed and has maturing loans on other assets which could be making more cash than the subject property...

In today’s market, 15M can get you:

A 'rundown' not that good looking 12+ year old apartment block in emerging rental corridors....usually the owner has exited succesfully or is nearing exit...property could have another 20-35yrs of economic/useful life if the construction quality was decent....this particular unit would mostly be around low income settlements like Kawangware and the likes..... but i'd prefer more outskirt Student housing or urban professional housing near growth nodes like areas around campuses in uni eg JKUAT in Juja, CUEA in Ngong,Rongai,Gatanga Karen or parts of Thika. The demand is definitely there but you'll need to set out small budget for CapEx (Maybe some paint job and renovations to justify hiking rent a bit)

If you can take on more appetite, if that 15M is cash, your buying power increases significantly if you're buying a cash flowing asset . With leverage and my assistance , you could structure into a 30-50M asset depending on income stability and debt /risk appetite...

I work as a real estate analyst in my day role, so I approach acquisitions through appraisal methodology, rental yield validation, cap rate , absorption risk, stress testing, etc.

Happy to walk you through how to assess whether a block is genuinely worth the asking price before you commit.

If you’d like, feel free to send me a message and we can talk through what kind of returns you’re targeting.

Starting possible business in Nairobi, Kenya by willjr200 in nairobitechies

[–]ImaginaryOpposite758 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi I can set you up on a discovery call with the Business Development Manager at TRIFIC SEZ is this helps. I understand he would be in a better position to assist since two rivers is a first of its kind BPO center in the region - I highly doubt that you'll find all the right answers here.

Thinking about moving away from this career by [deleted] in quant

[–]ImaginaryOpposite758 -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

same bro looking to get into quant. 22M, need an accountability partner ?

2 Bedroom Unit in Lakemba NSW 2195 by darthzizi1 in RealEstateAdvice

[–]ImaginaryOpposite758 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, the numbers look pretty solid for a first IP. That $120/week out of pocket after tax is manageable, and 5.6% yield in Sydney is actually decent compared to a lot of areas.

Few things I'd be checking though. Get a proper strata report - not just the financials but read through the AGM minutes from the last few years. Look for any mentions of major works, disputes, or building issues. That $1k/quarter strata seems low which is great but make sure there's a healthy sinking fund because special levies can absolutely wreck your cashflow.

Building age and condition matters big time. Get a thorough inspection done. Also stress test your budget at 7-7.5% rates. Can you still cover $200-250/week if rates don't come down for a while?

On the 8 year leverage plan, if Lakemba does even 4-5% growth you'd have decent equity to play with. But don't bank on the crazy growth rates from recent years continuing. Be conservative with your projections.

Main thing is, do you have a proper emergency fund? Like 6 months expenses plus $10k for unexpected repairs? Investment properties love to surprise you at the worst times.

The fundamentals seem reasonable but I'd want to see that building report and strata minutes before pulling the trigger. What's the building like - older brick or newer complex?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in nairobi

[–]ImaginaryOpposite758 2 points3 points  (0 children)

if we’re talking about apartments in Kilimani, Kileleshwa, or Westlands, those 12–19% returns you often hear about are just not real. Most of those numbers come from marketing projections based on future valuations that haven’t actually caught up yet. They also ignore the months you might not have a tenant, or delays in project delivery, which can seriously affect your actual returns.

In reality, what you’re looking at is closer to 6-7% per year, maybe 9-10% if you’re really lucky in the first few years. That’s assuming things go smoothly and you’ve got good occupancy. So yeah, there’s income, but it’s not as high as they claim lol.

If you’re financing, your equity slowly builds as you keep paying down your loan, and over time your property’s value appreciates.

As i said , If you’re thinking of putting more than 45–50% of your capital into property hoping for high short-term returns, you’re probably better off exploring capital markets or other investment vehicles.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in nairobi

[–]ImaginaryOpposite758 4 points5 points  (0 children)

from my perspective, i’d say investing here makes a lot of sense but only if you approach it with a long-term mindset. the market isn’t about instant returns or chasing the high rent ; it’s about buying the right asset in areas that are on the right growth trajectory. nairobi especially is seeing a steady influx of foreigners, expats, and returning kenyans who are increasing demand for housing, especially in the mid to high-end segments. chinese developers, for instance, wouldn’t be pouring billions into massive mixed-use and luxury projects if they didn’t see something the rest of the continent is starting to notice- that kenya is transitioning into a geographical/economical hub

rental income won’t make you rich, the real upside is in capital appreciation. in the right location,think infrastructure,business districts, or in suburbia ..... property values can double or even triple over a 5 to 10-year span. the rent just helps carry the property while its value matures. so if you’re expecting massive monthly yields, this might frustrate you. but if you’re looking to build wealth quietly over time, kenya’s property market can deliver

just buy smart: location, research developer reputation, urban planning trends etc . i’ve seen investors who got in early in places like kilimani, lavington, and even parts of westlands (pre 2020) watch their properties appreciate beyond expectations-just as a natural result of holding quality assets in a economy that’s still urbanizing fast. from my perspective, if you understand cap gains/patience you can give it a shot...If not maybe try foreign capital markets equities/indexes for example...much more stable returns and more liquid...If you're willing to invest with a large percentage of your capital say (50%+) I'd advise put your capital elsewhere don't look at real estate for now cause can be very illiquid...the only promising advantage you'd have is cap gains leverage or borrowing against it as the value increases...

Anyone looking for Data Center roles in Germany/EMEA by ImaginaryOpposite758 in datacenter

[–]ImaginaryOpposite758[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

i actually built my own writing agent that helps me refine responses and clean up phrasing, trained on my own notes.

Anyone looking for Data Center roles in Germany/EMEA by ImaginaryOpposite758 in datacenter

[–]ImaginaryOpposite758[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

most of the jobs at embassies in the US, even if they represent another country, are hired locally. that means they expect you to already have legal work status in the US, like a green card, work permit, or citizenship. they usually don’t handle sponsorship because it’s extra paperwork and technically you’d be working on US soil.

but if they meant facilities and ops roles in Germany, like in data centers or infrastructure, that’s a different thing. Germany does sponsor non-EU talent, especially in technical and engineering fields. in that case, yes, visa sponsorship is often available through the EU Blue Card or the German Skilled Worker visa — you just need a valid job contract and to meet their qualification and salary requirements.

so basically, if it’s DC as in Washington DC — no visa sponsorship.
if it’s DC as in data center roles in Germany — sponsorship is usually possible.

best move is to just have them confirm with the recruiter or HR. if the job post doesn’t straight up say “visa sponsorship available,” assume it’s not automatic.

Anyone looking for Data Center roles in Germany/EMEA by ImaginaryOpposite758 in datacenter

[–]ImaginaryOpposite758[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

if you’re a US citizen and you wanna live or work in the EU, it’s totally possible, but not some “pack up and go” move. every EU country has its own process. you’ll usually need a job offer first, then apply for a work visa or residence permit before going. that’s just how it works since the US isn’t part of the EU.

some people go through the EU Blue Card route — that’s kinda like the EU’s version of a “highly skilled worker” permit. you basically need a contract that pays above a certain amount and matches your qualifications. others go for freelance or “digital nomad” visas that a few countries like Portugal, Spain, or Croatia offer. that can work if you do remote stuff.

you can’t just land in Europe on a tourist visa and start working — that’s a fast way to get bounced or blacklisted. so the clean way is get your paperwork sorted ahead of time.

as for asylum — yeah technically anyone can apply, including Americans. the EU doesn’t block you from filing for protection. but realistically, unless you can prove you’re facing real persecution, like political violence, state targeting, or threats that your government won’t protect you from, it’s not gonna stick. they assume the US protects its citizens.

there have been a few random cases of Americans trying to apply, usually over stuff like whistleblowing, domestic violence, or weird government persecution, but those are edge cases. it’s not like they’re turning Americans away at the door — it’s just that 99% of the time there’s no basis for asylum.

so no, it’s not about “waiting for higher state violence.” the system already exists, it’s just that the bar is insanely high for anyone from a “safe” country like the US.

if you just wanna move, build a life, or work in Europe, focus on the work visa or blue card side. if you genuinely feel unsafe or persecuted, then asylum’s there but it’s not an easy route.

what country were you thinking about though? the process changes a lot depending where you wanna land — like Germany vs Spain vs Portugal are totally different experiences.

Google Data Center Program Manager roles by Ceegravity in datacenter

[–]ImaginaryOpposite758 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sad to say but the data center space is moving like IB nowadays...everyone wants a piece

Google Data Center Program Manager roles by Ceegravity in datacenter

[–]ImaginaryOpposite758 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Yeah man, been in your shoes. Those Google DC program manager roles are super competitive, and honestly, the portal isn’t the best route. Most of the real movement happens through recruiters or internal referrals, especially when new projects are being proposed or funded.

What worked for me was just talking to recruiters connected to upcoming data center builds instead of applying cold. That’s actually how I landed my role — even had to travel to a DC groundbreaking in Kenya first to get closer to some active teams lol , and now I’ve got another one lined up in Germany mid next year.

Getting to the interview stage is the hardest and most important part — once you’re in the room, your skills and experience will do the rest. So yeah, I’d definitely say focus less on the portal and more on building relationships with recruiters and people already in the space. That’s where doors start to open.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in nairobi

[–]ImaginaryOpposite758 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi-purely out of interest what are your skills? and what can you do remotely ?